October 2013

Combine history and fitness on this Civil War running tour of downtown Richmond! The year 1863 was a year of epidemics, accidents, inflation, riots, and death. Richmonders, striving to make ends meet, mourned the loss of a hero and wondered whether their sacrifices had all been in vain. Step back in time on this two-hour, 2.39 mile tour and discover a city immersed in a desperate battle for survival. The tour begins at the Museum of the Confederacy. Advance reservations required.

The Museum of the Confederacy-Appomattox is partnering with the Holiday Lake 4-H Center to put on a multi-day Civil War workshop focusing on Appomattox and beyond. Attendees will learn from Civil War historians during several educational sessions, take field trips to local Civil War sites such as Sailor's Creek Battlefield, High Bridge, the Appomattox Court House National Historical Park, and the Museum of the Confederacy-Appomattox. Meals and lodging at the 4-H Center are included with the registration fee.

Every second Wednesday of the month, the Museum of the Confederacy and the Appomattox Court House National Historical Park are partnering to bring the Civil War Sesquicentennial to Appomattox. Each month, a knowledgable speaker will lead a discussion on a topic or event's 150th anniversary. The talks take place at the Museum of the Confederacy-Appomattox

Greg Starbuck, the Executive Director of Historic Sandusky in Lynchburg, VA will lecture at the Museum of the Confederacy-Appomattox on the role that Lynchburg played in the Civil War. Refreshments will be served at 6:30 pm and the lecture will begin at 7:00 pm. Reservations are required. Register online here, or contact Josie Butler at (855) 649-1861 x 203 or jbutler@moc.org for more information.

Throughout the Sesquicentennial of the Civil War, the Museum of the Confederacy-Richmond will be hosting a monthly series of talks devoted to a topic or event's 150th anniversary. These talks, normally scheduled for the third Friday of the month, are free for members and Richmond area residents, and are included with Museum admission for all others.

Have you ever looked at a beautiful Civil War quilt and wondered what life might have been like for a woman living back then? Why did she choose those fabrics and how did she find the time to work on it? Completing a quilt can be overwhelming for a lot of us. Just starting one is daunting. We can help with that. This project was created for the beginner. No sewing experience or sewing machine is required.

At the Civil War Medicine Homeschool Day, students will discover why disease was the number one killer of Civil War soldiers and learn about different treatments for different wounds. Learn about medicine during the Civil War and participate in a mock amputation! Students will have the opportunity to serve as assistant surgeons, wounded soldiers, and amputees. Wednesday, October 16, 2013, from 10 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Specify the morning session (10 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.) or afternoon session (1 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.) when you register.

Local author and historian David Bridges will give a short talk and be signing his new historical novel “The Broken Circle” about his ancestor Dr. James Breathed. The talk and signing will follow the unveiling of a Confederate Medal of Honor posthumously awarded to Breathed, a major in the Confederate horse artillery who served under J.E.B. Stuart. Cost: free.

Transportation by trains had advanced in the years before the Civil War, which allowed for large numbers of troops to be transported. The system was still hampered with gaps in service, incompatible track gauges and lack of equipment. Join Howard Gregory at the Museum of the Confederacy-Appomattox for this discussion of the importance of railroads during the Civil War. Cost: Free with Museum admission.

The White House of the Confederacy’s household staff was a diverse group of enslaved African-Americans, free blacks, Irish immigrants and a German florist. This tour will introduce visitors to the servants and describe the roles they played in the daily operation of the house. Cost: $10.00 for adults. $8.00 for seniors over the age of 62. $6.00 for youth aged 7 to 13. Free for children under 7.

Cathy Wright, Curator, will be working in the Museum of the Confederacy-Richmond's lobby, removing old conservation stitching from the battle flag of the 24th Virginia Infantry in preparation for the flag’s new conservation. The Fowler-Richey method of stitching was applied to many flags circa 1940 (including the “Star Spangled Banner”), but it is now considered damaging to flags and must be removed. Visitors will be able to watch this conservation effort up close and ask questions.